Can the Sycamore Gap tree be saved?

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. open image in gallery All hope is not lost for Sycamore Gap, according to Andrew Poad of the National Trust, who pointed to the health of the ancient tree “It was about 300 years old, so it’ll take a long time to get back to that size. It would really be better if a new one was planted and carefully watched over.” open image in gallery People look at the tree at Sycamore Gap, next to Hadrian's Wall, in Northumberland after it was felled overnight on Wednesday A 16-year-old boy who was arrested in connection with the incident has since been released on bail pending further inquiries, Northumbria Police said on Friday morning. Sycamore Gap was made famous by actor Kevin Costner when it appeared in his 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves, and was voted English Tree of the Year in 2016 in the Woodland Trust’s awards. open image in gallery Sycamore Gap was made famous by actor Kevin Costner when it appeared in his 1991 film Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves Shadow Security Minister Dan Jarvis described the tree’s felling as a “senseless act of vandalism” and told of his hopes the culprit is caught, while the conservation charity Woodland Trust wrote of their devastation at the “truly irreplaceable loss” in a post retweeted by naturalist Chris Packham.